O Izakaya Lounge Restaurant Review

: Foodies looking for “classic” Japanese cuisine and Zen-like environs might be surprised and amused by this lively bar and restaurant outfitted with comfortable, diner-style booths and baseball-themed décor. Izakaya means pub food meant to be shared, particularly with beer, and the kitchen’s inspired offerings are innovative and approachable (delightful service can be similarly lauded). Shareable nibbles are organized into small, robust hot plates, such as poached egg and chicken-liver gyoza oyako (over rice); healthier cold plate options with lots of fresh and cured fish and Japanese-inspired salads; agemono (deep-fried) food; and yakimono (grilled skewers) of pork or hamachi belly, or beef loin. Ingredients are seasonal and combinations are snappy with flavor, as with the light tempura battered bites of butternut squash enhanced with shiso and green tea salt, and smoke-dark Black Butte Porter tempura-encased mushroom caps dipped in tangy Hatcho miso sauce. Sticky togarashi-spiced chicken wings are dressed with citrus honey and eat like candy. Traditionalists will be pleased to see steamed rice, soup and pickles on the menu---try all three together for a fine, restful finish to the meal. Look for the specialty sakés, shochu and a small but good list of draft and bottled beers. Worth noting are that share plates are speedily refreshed with each course (a rarity) and jars of fresh chopsticks rest conveniently on each table.

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